Plans

The Birman boys have been busy on the run up to Christmas, Lexx and Brodie all being well will be proud dads again in the new year. I have repeated the Matings that gave me Elmarlay Babbling Brooke (Lexx to River) and also the mating that gave me Elmarlay Ceres (Brodie to Angel)

Zahara is still showing no sign of her 1st call let alone any subsequent ones at nearly 18 months this is starting to look a bit odd. Trip to the vet for a health check only revealed costly invasive options so I am waiting the arrival of spring. So no Siberian plans.

Well that's my round up I will confirm whether kittens are expected in due course on the website as well as further kitten plans. Hope you all had a good Christmas

Bye Bye To The Naughties

Well it is a bit of a sad evening seeing the last kitten of Phoenix & Scout's naughty interlude go off to their new home. Ms Tortitude was the final kitten to leave and she will be known as Poppy with new family. Bessie has settled with Tamsin & family and will be venturing out on the Show circuit in the new year as a Pedigree pet. The boys are settled in their new homes and no doubt being spoilt and not forgetting Lucy who is keeping her new owner entertained and probably the whole of the residents in the community living complex. So it is a little strange these kittens although not pedigree in the sense of the word they were thoroughly enjoyed and been raised with love and I hope each one of them brings many happy years to their new owners lives, as I certainly enjoyed having them, even if they were born out of Naughtiness.

All said and done Scout has the potential to produce outstanding kittens with the Siberian Girls and Phoenix after a 1st litter of premature kittens that sadly didn't make it she has proved to be an excellent mom, something had Scout not secretly mated her she would have never had the opportunity of being as I had planned to have her spayed and not put her through another pregnancy. The saying of Nature works in mysterious ways is very true in this case. Five beautiful kittens who have been raised with love and who have gone on to give that love onto their new owners.

Hope you all enjoy them.

North Of Britain Show 5th December

I made the trip to Sheffield with Lunar & Sharnie (Mother & Daughter Combo) The Siberians stayed at home, but it was lovely to see a good number of Siberian out on the bench. Zahara's brother was there Czar so we had a quick cuddle and a long chat with Audrey.

Lunar didn't shine at this show partly down I think to me being ill for the week and so I hadn't done the 100% job on her, plus she did have a grump on her as she is coming into call and she is always a miserable mare when she is in call, watch out girls you are in for a rough week ahead!

Sharnie did well bless her she hasn't been shown for months after some quite cutting comments from a judge had really put me off taking her out again, and although I was in doubt about taking her out again I decided to enter her and well she had a good day, taking 1st in her open and then being placed 3x 2nd in her side classes. All the comments from the judges and fellow breeders were also positive and she even had her picture taken and these will appear on the North Of Britain's website in time. All she needs to do is grow a coat and develop a ruff as she still hasn't a coat.

What A Day The Supreme Was!!!!

It has been a while since I have updated the Blog and well today only seemed right to do so. Elmarlay Lunar Moon went to the supreme on a cold and wet morning, the day started off a bit rushed as I had gone to the NEC to help set up the Siberian stand and also my pen as it is always a frantic affair on the morning. The M6 was a car park going and coming so decided it was going to be an early start, well 1st nightmare slept through the alarm woke about 20 minutes after it was set, so mad dash to get out got to the NEC for 7.30am ready for vetting in and ground to a halt had to wait 40 minutes to park as it was like wacky races, slight car park queue rage with a an idiot who thought that she was able to drive straight to the front of the queue and cut us all up, not the smartest move as I don't suffer idiots lightly so she got a head out the window air blue moment, really thought this was going to be a disaster day all round. Parked and made the trek for vetting in, got through no problems, got Lunar looking good although Lunar did feel the wet look suited her better!!!!!

Time for Judging and this was the most nerve racking 1/2 hour of my life but I am pleased to say that Lunar got her Elusive 3rd Grand Certificate against two beautiful chocolate girls which really the class was any ones game. So a BIG Thank You to Mrs Joyce Green for Awarding Lunar her last Grand and making her GRAND CHAMPION ELMARLAY LUNAR MOON, she is not only my 1st home bred Champion but now my 1st home bred Grand Champion. Thank you to the many friends and other exhibitors for the cards and messages of congratulations it is much appreciated.

The Siberian stand had a lot of interest and the breed was being admired by many, so all round a very positive day, Also a special mention has to go to Mandy & Jeff Symonds who's wonderful Dave went Supreme Pedigree Pet, Dave is the 1st Supreme Pedigree Pet but it is also more special as he is a Siberian. So congratulations to Mandy, Jeff & of course Dave.

we had an interesting afternoon of spending far too much money on stocking up on cat food and other cat products, spent far too much as usual. then we had a lovely emergency evacuation to contend with after some bright spark decided to have a crafty cigarette in the toilets and tripped the smoke censor off, we were all told to leave the building but we had to leave our cats, not a good plan myself like many others did not agree with this and me having a big gob, had a run in with a jobs worth who told me to stop being awkward, wrong statement to make so he got a rather blunt statement back, of over my dead body will she stay put, thankfully for him the hall was bought to attention again to say that it was a false alarm and the show was back on.

So a good day, am very happy, tired and broke so not a bad day all round.

RESULTS FROM THE COLOURPOINT, REX-COATED & AOV SHOW

We had a short trip to this show as it is close to home but was still up early!!!!

Took his lordship out (Scout) and Elmarlay Babbling Brooke (Brooke) and both of them had a good day.

Scout achieved his 4th merit and also had a fantastic result in a side class obtaining a 1st place over two coonies and a Birman. The bonus was that his Judge Mrs Grant said that he stood out in the class and it was great to see a good example of the breed at a GCCF show as there are so few Siberians being shown. (I am biased as Scout is a daddies boy and I love him to bits as he is just such an affectionate lump, a few stewards were quite surprised by how heavy he is and he isn't a year old yet) He will have a rest from the show scene but may come out here and there just to keep his hand in.

Brooke did well she got a 1st in her open but lost out on the BOB to a lad who was bigger, she followed this up with a 1st and a 2nd in her side classes. She charmed a few judges and one even asked if I would part with her which my mom was like NO Way!!!! Brooke finished her kitten show career off in style and will return to the bench in the new year when she has grown a little more and her colours have become better defined.

A good day all round, well pleased with the results and we will be out and about again soon.

THE BIR-SIB BABIES AT 6 WEEKS

These little monsters are growing up fast and they are starting to take on the look of either mom or dad. Eddie the red point is defiantly going to be like his mom. Sasha the black tortie has a mass of coat and well Ms Tortatude tortie smoke & white is going to be like dad. Ted red solid is very much like his dad for size and mannerisms he has the same annoying nature of digging for England in the litter tray like Scout does. Lucy seal tortie colour point is a funny little madam she is neither Birman or Siberian in her look she is sort of between the two. Enjoy the pictures. Lucy & Sasha have new homes already the others are looking for their perfect homes.

The Bir-Sibs Family Portrait

Phoenix's Babies are three weeks now and are growing so well that I thought it was about time I took some pictures and put them on the blog. The Tortie & White girl has developed into a Tortie Smoke something that I thought may happen but as she has got older her coat has become very pale at the roots like dads. Enjoy the pictures.

Last But Not Least - Widget

Widget is Dreams sister and was topped up as mom had very little milk and I nearly lost her more than once and never felt she would get to this point but she has done so well that I feel that the time has come that Widget needs to find her loving home where she can be pampered in the coming weeks. She is a lovable madam, it will be sad to see her go but I can say that I have done the best for her.

New Pictures Of Dream

Whilst taking some Pictures of Sharnie I thought I better take some new ones of Dream as she too has grown both her coat and also had a growth spurt. Enjoy

New Pictures Of Sharnie

Just a few pictures I took the other day of Sharnie, she is finally growing a coat although very slowly. She is developing well and I am pleased with how she is going, enjoy the pictures.

Elmarlay Lunar Moon & Koolblue Kleverklogs

Well Lunar came out of retirement and made her debut at The Wyvern Cat clubs show and she had a really good day to say she only had kittens just over five months ago she looked well. She got the Reserve Grand, the CC & BOB and was placed 3rd in both her side classes. She was beaten in the grand by a girl who I have admired for some time well done to Viv Lee and Klassyklogs Kalemyokoko on achieving your final Imperial and also the grand Koko did look stunning.

Looks like Lunar will be out and about again soon.

Scout also had a good day getting his third Merit and also being placed in two side classes, 1st and 2nd. Well done my handsome boy one more to go and then you can have a rest.

The Bir-Sibs

Phoenix babies are doing really well they are just over a week old now and they are weighing in with weights of double of what they were born with, in the case of the red lad he has doubled his birth weight and added about 30g besides, he is going to be a rather strapping lad when he is bigger. His siblings are all looking equally as good, the two colour points are starting to get some colour although the red point is still very white but his ears are showing faint tinges of apricot. All of them will have there eyes open by the middle of the week and I think it won't be long before the fun starts. Poor Phoenix she will have her paws full in the coming weeks trying to keep charge of the tribe. Will add some more photo's soon.

A New Picture Of Esaya Bwytching Elmarlay

I have a new picture of her ladyship from Audrey and she is growing well and in just over a week she is coming home to Elmarlay. I cant believe she has a coat, it will be nice to have a cat that has a coat, as all of mine seem to have lost theirs to the extreme this year.

Enjoy the picture I am sure there will be many more to come in the coming weeks.

1st Pictures

Well here they are Phoenix & Scouts bundles of naughtiness. 1st Picture is of the Tortie girl, the 2nd picture is of the rather pretty Tortie & White girl, 3rd is the rather handsome Red Male and last but no means least the 4th picture is of the Colour Point duo.

Phoenix went pop

Well today I had a surprise when I got up Phoenix had kept me guessing this last week as to how far gone she was in her pregnancy. Well in the early hours she went into labour and had 5 bouncing bundles, all good weights and colours what a rainbow. She has a beautiful mosaic tortie and White girl, a solid tortie girl and a rather big red boy who's colour is so vibrant it is breath taking, then she has two colour points who are snow white, there is a boy and a girl, so the boy is likely to be red point and the girl seal tortie.

Mom is very proud of her brood of Birsibs dad couldn't care less as usual.

Elmarlay Galaxy Cowboy showing off

Cowboy posing for the camera and playing king of the castle, Ran has bought him a new cat tree and I think by the many pictures of him I have received he is quite taken with it. He is growing into a big lad who is going through that teenage stage his ears are looking quite top heavy at the moment but they will come back into proportion in time.

Thank you Ran for the lovely pictures I do enjoy looking at them and seeing how he is turning out. Also Thank you for giving him such a lovely home, he is one very lucky boy.

Brooke's write up from The Gwynedd Cat Club

TABBY/TORTIE TABBY BIRMAN KITTEN
1ST & BOB, BAXTER’S ELMARLAY BABBLING BROOKE, 13c20, LILAC TORTIE TABBY FEMALE, 03.02.09
What a beautiful looking female, she has a real chocolate box expression. Very promising young lady, looking well balanced and very composed. Lovely head type, cheeks filling out well, nicely placed medium sized ears, medium length nose with slight dip in the profile, good chin. Irresistible expression from gorgeous deep sapphire blue eyes, of perfect almost round shape. Well grown and well proportioned female, already showing excellent body size and weight, medium length thick set limbs and short paws, lovely tail to balance. Her markings are still developing, and I would be keen to see more tabby markings coming through, as at the moment she has lilac and pale cream colours on the points, but the tabby element is less visible, albeit there is the faintest line for an M marking on the forehead and some barring on the front legs. Gloves and gauntlets appear to be even, though the points colouring does need to develop more to distinguish the white areas fully. Wonderful nature, so happy to be handled, I could have taken her home with me!

JUDGE - Eliane Culf.

Thank you Elaine for this write up we are mighty impressed with her also.

Esaya Bwytching Elmarlay

Well we have a new addition joining us in a few weeks time another Esaya girl, Wytch is a solid black and white girl who is the younger half sister to Zahara. I have been getting regular updates on Wytch and after many times of saying she is lovely Audrey told me that she was only going two places one was staying firmly put where she was or she was coming to Elmarlay. As Zahara hates traveling the options of taking her stud is limited as she gives up on life once in the car and my plan was to take her out in order to get another breed girl for Scout to be mated to, so after careful thinking I thought well whats another one, so Wytch is coming to Elmarlay.

To be honest most of my cats have been by chance and not planned, when I do plan things usually go pear shaped so I am throwing the plans out the window. Elmarlay was started by chance with Ella (RIP) some nearly nine years ago as she chose me, after several conversations later Aurora joined me to start my red series breeding, followed then by Brodie & Kyra again both by chance and Lexx well that was the start of visiting Audrey I turned him down initially and then could have kicked myself thankfully Lexx's new home fell through and the next weekend I went and fetched him, then the Siberians started coming, Zahara came as I had seen Czar her older brother when I met Lexx so next litter Zahara came then Audrey put me in touch with Lorraine and Scout came, never in my minds eye did I want a cat with white as I was trying to get away from flipping white feet after the Birmans, I had also hoped to get away from Colour poiunts but that is looking unlikely as Zahara & Wytchs mom has produced Colour points.

Oh well told you it was no good to plan, Scout has the temperament I was looking for and his pattern really sets him off so although I never wanted with white I will be breeding them, Wtytch has the smallest amount of white possible on her but as it is there she has to be registered as with white. You will have to wait and see where it is. As both her and Scout carry Colour Point seal points are more than likely appear but that is a few years away yet so we won't worry about that one, as I have said plans no point they always go out the window.

Phoenix

Well Phoenix is approaching the final stages of her pregnancy and she can only be described as resembling a weeble as she wobbles but doesn't seem to fall over!!! She is getting very uncomfortable and I would not like to make a judgement call on how many are in there. This should be an interesting accident litter who knows they may all be colour points like mom. Will keep you posted.

Where to go next

Well it is time to think what shows I am going to do with the cats and it has been a real headache as life has a habit of throwing a curve ball and then you have to reassess what is what all over again. With disappointing show results and also the general cost of showing and family issues I have decided that it is time to slow things down a bit. I am not going to show too much over the coming months as I need to sort the garden out before winter comes and destroys any hope of getting it to look like anything that resembles a garden.

Show Outcomes

I took three cats out today to the Chester & North Wales Show, what a big mistake that was, I spent the day running up and down the show hall as they were not near each other and the heat in the hall was really uncomfortable for owners so god knows how it was for the cats.

SCOUT - had the best day of all he took his 2nd Merit with a good write up and was placed in a large side class 4th

DREAM - was on her own in the open but got placed 1st the boy took the BOB he was much bigger and older than her, she didn't do any good in her side classes she was unplaced. Dream is a little dumpling at the moment and lacks length in her body this is a development thing and will come with age. Although Dream was not very confident she handled well but as she is a bit of a home bird, I think she may be better leaving the show scene to one of the others as she spent most of her day hiding under her blanket.

SHARNIE - Sharnie's results were a little disappointing as Sharnie resembles her mom so much and I love the look she has but she was in a strong class of female tabby kittens and I didn't expect her to gain top marks but thought she would come somewhere in the line up. Sadly she didn't she was unplaced and speaking to her Judge afterwards I was upset by her remarks and on reflection I must be looking for something different to her in the breed. Sharnie resembles her mom Lunar considerably apart from colour, I thought I had a good eye for assessing my kittens as her Dam is almost a Grand Champion? The comments that she was "small & under developed" her Colour tone to her chocolate is cold and pale and she needs to grow would look better in a month or so!!!! Well she was one of the biggest kittens in the class she weighs in at a good weight she has a long body and substantial limbs (she is bigger than her dam at the same age when I compare weights), She does however need to develop a coat and her chocolate is very pale, but in the standard of points the colour is described as Milk Chocolate and should not resemble a seal, confused well I was. Sharnie did however achieve a 2nd in a large side class and speaking to that judge the comments didn't reflect the open judges, time will tell I am in no rush to show her again till she has grown a winter coat.

The show career goes on hold for Sharnie & Dream & with only two more Merits for Scout and then his show career will draw to a close, Then what will I show, I might just have to bring Lunar out of retirement and try for the last Grand - who knows. We might just have to stay at home it would be cheaper. What ever happens I love my cats for whoever they are and Dream & Sharnie were the results of planned out cross matings and I achieved what I wanted two beautiful girls in my eyes who have the look I want and the temperament to match.

Elmarlay Legacy to Ella

Grief is such a hard thing to deal with the Birman Cat Clubs summer magazine arrived through the door this week and I had put a tribute in it to my dear Ella, this was in the hope of coming to peace with loosing her, but sadly this hasn't had the desired effect I sat in total sorrow reading the words that I had placed in there in her memory. I feel that I will never fully get over Ella she was truly a remarkable cat, not the biggest girl in the world but what she lacked in size she made up for in Catitude!!! she ruled the Elmarlay tribe with a iron paw even the dogs didn't push there luck with her.

Sleep peacefully my dear girl, your legacy lives on in the girls and boys born under the Elmarlay Name.

Show Brags

Well I went to the Gwynedd Cat Clubs show and had a good day with Scout and Brooke. Brooke took a 1st and BOB in her open class and was placed 3rd in a side class, Scout took his 1st Merit and was placed 3rd twice and a 4th in his side classes. The quality of the pictures are not great as they were taken on my phone as I left the camera at home. Scout is doing his usual trick of redoing the furniture around him, he is the same at home with the cat beds they are never in the right place for him!!!! Brooke is far more dignified and is far too busy trying to attract ever passer by to pay her attention she is a right littler poser and attention seeker!!

CAT TV!!!!

I found these pictures today whilst looking for a file on the computer and the memory stick, and thought that you would like to see them. The young man who is watching with such interest the fish swimming in the tank is Ch. Esaya Siouxwarrior - AKA - Lexx one of my stud boys, Lexx was about 7 months when these pictures were taken. The fish didn't last long after this, I find fish so relaxing but never seem to do very well with them, Lexx or any of the other cats never got to them so they weren't the culprits of the fish's fate!!!

Off to a new home

Well the time has come to say good bye to Elmarlay The Galaxy Cowboy, Lunar's Lilac son he has started his new adventure with his new owner Ran & her partner, Cowboy's adventure started with a trip to the Train station to meet Ran, we said our good byes and off he went to get on the train for a long journey back to Bath. I feel sorry for the passengers as he is a rather noisy boy and like a lot of fuss so sitting in his carrier for two hours isn't going to go down to well. All the best to him I am sure he will be very happy and he will have a new playmate joining him in the coming weeks a seal point lad from another breeder. Take care of him Ran as Cowboy is a little star.

Elmarlay Words Of A Lullaby

This young lady is Elmarlay Words Of A Lullaby who is known at home as Dream. Why Dream well I have a weakness for Blue Points and sadly my original Blue point girl was put to sleep just over twelve months ago and she was the Grandmother to Dream and my other breed girl who was Blue had to be speyed at the start of 2008 after she had complication's with her last pregnancy. So Dream is a dream come true as I now have a future blue point breed/show queen. Also she is the spit of Ella her Grandmother in her mannerisms, only last night this girl whilst having a cuddle snuggled up under my chin and purred and once you are relaxed she nipped me on the chin with great delight this bought more than one tear to my eye as this was Ella's trick, thus sealing the fate that Dream was here to stay!!!

Elmarlay Cosmic Starlight

This young lady by her Posh Name is Elmarlay Cosmic Starlight she is Lunar's daughter to Demilune Tormist Mr Oliver (owned by Jan Francis - Norvin Birmans) At home she is simply known as Sharnie, she is the spit of her mom with similar eye colour and equally loving personality. I hope she takes the show circuit in her stride like her mom has, watch this space for news on how Sharnie gets on.

Two New Hombred Girls Join The Elmarlay Line Up!!!

This year I planned to do two outcross matings with two girls to try and get some new girls in that would be able to be mated to both Lexx and Brodie, as Lunar will retire in the coming twelve months or so and Lexx has produced two female kittens that are stunning but then they cant go to him and I was running the risk of hitting a brick wall. So I chose to try my luck at to open my lines with two lads who were different breeding from there own sires that are about in the area, well it worked Miya has given me Dream a little sweetie who is so much like her grandmother Ella it is uncanny. Lunar has given me a Chocolate Tabby Girl Sharnie who is a chip of the old block very much like her mom but only in tabby and Chocolate. Both these two will be out on the show circuit in coming months and we will see how they do.

Scout is growing up to be a rather handsome fellow, I am hoping he will take over from Zahara on the show scene. His smoke is starting to come through and when in full winter coat I think his black coat will loose it's density giving him a more silver appearance. He is following his dad for his size.

Brooke started her show career at the Merseyside Show on the 6th June 2009, she had a fantastic day achieving 1st Open & BOB, plus being placed in two of her side classes 1st. Brooke took the day in her stride, just like her dad Lexx, although at home she is a naughty little madam just like her mother, the best of both worlds I suppose.

Esaya Zahara Of Elmarlay achieved her 4th Qualifying Merit at The Merseyside show on 6th June 2009. Zahara will retire from the show scene now as she hates the traveling to shows. We thank all her judges for awarding her 5 merits. I thank Audrey Saye for breeding my wonderful young lady Zahara will hopefully have her 1st litter in early 2010.